Levin
yarn finger operating means



Aug. 24, 1965 N. LEVIN 3,201,957

I YARN FINGER OPERATING MEANS Filed Jan. 19, 1961 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Fig.1.

INVENTOR.

FEED N l.

Aug. 24, 1965 N. LEVIN YARN FINGER OPERATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,201,957 YARN FINGER OPERATING MEANS Nathan Levin, 722 Edgewood Ave, Trenton, NJ. Filed Jan. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 83,828 19 Claims. ((11. 66-138) The present invention relates generally to the art of knitting and more particularly to apparatus adapted to cyclically operate selected yarn fingers at each feed of a multi-feed circular knitting machine.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and from the appended claims.

In the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the cylinder portion and related parts of a four feed circular knitting machine and of the yarn finger operating apparatus of the present inventionin position on said machine with the oscillatable ring of said apparatus in its neutral idle position midway between its terminal positions.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the portion of the yarn finger apparatus disposed at one of the feeds.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 as taken on line 3-3 thereof and showing a portion of a finger control pattern drum.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the present apparatus showing the oscillatable ring in one of its two terminal positions.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the ring in the other of its two terminal positions, corresponding to its position in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention as taken on lines 66 of FIG. 1 showing the means for controlling the positions of the ring.

ally 360 degrees in each direction. The machine is provided with. four equally circumferentially spaced knitting stations or feeds, generally indicated as Feed No. 1, Feed No. 2, Feed No. 3 and Feed No. 4, and, as a portion of the component parts of each of the feeds, there is provided a plurality of individual yarn guide fingers pivotally mounted and movable into and out of yarn feeding positions under control of a yarn finger pattern drum 11. The yarn fingers, five in number at each of the feeds, are similarly indicated at 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 and are under the control of the individual yarn control drums 11 associated therewith at each of the feeds. Each of the yarn drums 11 is adapted to be indexed at certain times by a suitable ratchet and pawl mechanism 17 under control of the main pattern. drums (not shown) of the machine.

The set of yarn fingers, 12 through 16, at each of the feeds, is pivotally supported within a housing 18 upon a horizontal pin 19 supported in and extending between the opposite side walls 20, 20 of said housing. Also supported within said housing is a set of five yarn-finger-lifters 21, the lifters being pivotally mounted upon a horizontal pin 22 supported in and extending between the opposite side -walls 2t), 2d of the housing. The lifters, individually associated with the yarn fingers, are adapted to selectively 3,291,957 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 ice move the latter under control of the drum 11, depending upon the location of buttons 23 upon the outer face of the drum, the buttons being placed in accordance with the yarn finger selections desired. There may be a row of buttons 23 for each lifter 21 and a button will depress one end 24 of such lifter to raise its other end 25, the latter in turn raising its associated yarn finger to inactive or nonfeeding position, this being the position of fingers 12 and 13 in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the absence of a button 23, the associated yarn finger will be movable to its active or feeding position, this being the dotted line position of finger 13 in FIG. 3, by a suitably anchored tension spring 26, there being one of the latter operatively related to each of the yarn fingers.

In this manner, at each of the feeds, there is a pattern means 11 adapted to individually control the feeding and the non-feeding positions of each of the yarn fingers. Additionally, means is provided to cyclically move selected fingers, at each feed, alternately into and out of feeding positions, providing the control of drums 11 is such that the selected fingers may be placed in their feeding positions, that is, where the absence of buttons 23 on drums 11 permit the selected fingers to be moved to their feeding positions by springs 26.

The four yarn finger housings 18 are equidistantly spaced in relation to the top surface of sinker cap 10, the inner faces of a portion of the housings, indicated at 27, being suitably formed to provide peripheral bearing surfaces for a ring member 28 placed on said sinker cap and adapted to oscillate thereon within the said bearings. A mechanism is provided to intermittently move said ring from a suitable power source, such as the upright rotary shaft 29, FIG. 6, of the machine. This shaft is adapted to make one revolution of 360 degrees during the time that the needle cylinder makes two successive individual strokes of reciprocating knitting, that is, during the time that the needle cylinder travels 360 degrees in one direction and 360 degrees in the opposite direction.

The shaft 29 projects upwardly through the top plate 30 of the machine and is provided with a relatively small wide face gear 31 fixed thereto at the upper end thereof in spaced relation to said plate. A second gear 32, preferably of twice the pitch diameter of gear 31, engages and is driven by gear 31 in either its full line position or its dotted line position of FIG. 6. Gear 32 is apertured to rotate freely about upstanding shaft 33 fixed in bracket 34 which in turn is fixed to plate 30. To move gear 32 vertically on shaft 33, it is provided on its underside with an apertured collar 35 having circumferential groove 36 therein. A lever 37 pivotally mounted at 38 on bracket 34 has one arm 39 thereof provided with a roller 40 to be placed within groove 36. The other arm 41 of the lever is suitably connected to the main pattern drum (not shown) of the machine v-ia connecting rod 42 by means of which thelever 37 may be rocked clockwise to lower its roller 40, the roller in turn positioning the collar 35 and gear 32 on shaft 33 in their full line positions. A compression spring 43 encircling shaft 33 between collar 35 and bracket 34 tends to move gear 32 upwardly and it may be so moved to its dotted line position when the pattern drum releases its action on rod 42, the lever 37 at the same time being rocked counter-clockwise, FIG. 6, to a position of rest against adjustable stop screw 44. Gear 32 is provided with off-center upstanding pin 45 which moves to its lower (full line) and upper (dotted line) positions when the gear is moved along shaft 3-3;

Since gear 31 rotates counterclockwise, the gear 32 and its pin 45 rotate in clockwise direction during which the pin is adapted to alternately engage the cam shapedends 46 and 47 of a pair of adjustable yoke arms 48 and 49 operatively related to the ring 28. This yoke is rotatably journalled on upright shaft 50 and is provided with the arm '51 .th'e slotted free end of which extends over the ring 28 which is provided with a pin 52 positioned within said slot. I

As may be seen in FIG. 4, when the pin 45. (in its upper dotted'line position of FIG. 6) has moved in clockwise direction to the position shown, it has already engaged Wltli and moved up thecarn'face 53 of the arm 48 to rock the arms 48, 49 and 51 in the-Esa medirection and to have their pins 60 in the dotted line position of FIG. 3 Where they have no effect upon fingers 15, 16 one of which (depending upon buttons 23 of drum 11) may then be in feeding position. At" the same time, cams 62 at Feeds Nos. 1 and 3 will'engage and raiser-ollers -59 of the lefthand rockers 57' to cause their pins 60 to be lowered to raise one of the fingers 1'5, 16' (depending upon thereby move thering 28" in 'counterclockwise. direction a to the posit-ion shown ingthis viewi" In'doing this the arm 48 will'be moved toward the center of gear 32. -;As

pin 45 continues to move'and reaches theposition of FIG. 5, that is, approximately 1'80degrees later, it"will have alreadyengaged with and moved up the cam face 54 of the arm'48 to rock the arms 48, .49 and 51 in counterclockwise direction to thereby-move'the ring 2 8 in clockwise direction' to' theposition .shown' in this. view. 'In

doing this, the arm 49 willbe moved toward the center once again engaged by the pin 45 as the latter continues its rotary movement. Thus'th e rotating" pin 45 will coning positions. g at these Feeds Nos. 1 :and 3. are not then engaged by the cams 62 so that these rockers may have their pins in the dotted line position .of "FIG. 3 where they have no 7 buttons 23..of,drum,,1-1)' control-led thereby to non-feed The rollers 59 of the right hand rockers effect upon fingers '11, .12 one of which (depending upon buttons 23of drum 11) may then he in feeding position.

' t4, the effect of the,can1s 61,'61,62, 62 is reversed at "each of the feeds.-

'When the ring 28 is moved counter-clockwise, FIG.

Cams 61, 61Y raise the left hand rockers 57 at Feeds Nos. 2 and 4 to thereby raise one of of gear 32 where its'cam face 53 will be in position to be tinue to impart intermittent oscillatory movements to the ring 28, the latter in turn controlling'the positions of selected yarn "-fingers' at each of the feeds as will 'beexplained.

It is desired'that the ring 28lbe idled at times in a ,the fingers 15, 16 to non-feeding positions while right hand rockers 56 permit'one of the fingers 12, 13 to be lowered tofeedin-gpositions. Cams 62, 62 raisethe right ,hand rockers 56 atFeeds Nos. 1 and '3 to thereby raise one of the fingers 12; 13 to non-feeding positions while neutral inactive position' rnidwayof itsterminal oscillating' positions, as indicated 111..FIG. 1; .To this end each of the arms 48, 49 is providedalongits outeredgeiwith a downwardly extending lip or cam surface'55 so positioned as to be engaged by pin when the latter is in its lowered full line position of FIG. 6 wherein its upper end is below the plane of arrns 48,.49. As the loweredj pin rotates,

left hand rockers 57 permit one of he lowered-to feeding positions.

the fingers 15, 16 to When onefof the fingers 1 2,- :13.(or 15, 16) is-held in non-feeding position by-drum 11,-andthe other thereof is permitted to move 'to'feeding position under thein- 'finenoe of its spring 26,;then' such other finger may he alternately placed in feeding and in non-feeding positions by the action of .the'rocker arms and the ring 28. The fingers-to be influenced by the rocker-arms and the ring a 28 may thus, be changed by indexingjthe drum 11 to the outer side thereof travels in the path of a circle indicated at 55a' which 'is tangent to the near faces of the two cam surfaces 55't'o thus keep the arms 48, and 51 a and the ring 28 stationaryfin'a' position which is'midway :between their ,positions'of FIGS. 4 and 5. i

At each oftheffeeds of the rnachine;the,yarn finger housing .18 is: provided withmeans by which the move- 'ment of ring' 28 may be utilized.to placeselected fingers into and out of yarn feeding positions. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the housing 18 (of Feed N052) is providedon theouter [sides of'side walls. 20, 20 thereof with right and left'hand rockers or finger lifters 56 and 57 'e'ach .of which is lpiviotally supported on a pin 58secur edin each of .said'i side walls. Theforward ends of one .of: the arms of; the I rockers 56, 57 are provided.withtransver-se rollers 53,159

positioned over the ring 28 while theother armsfofjthe rockers are provided withthe threaded transversely adjust able pins '60, 6 tlfwhich extend overthe fingersf to the rear of their supporting pin'1 9- Each ofl the'pins 60fm'ay be adjusted to lie over one or more ornone .of the fingers,

and in the present instance'each pinis, disposed over a I pair of the outerfingers."

. .AtiFeedsNos. 2 and 4 there is'a'spaced pair of ca'rns' 61,[61 ,on ring 28,"thei spacing being such that when the." i

ring is in the neutral position of FIG. 1, the-inclined faces 'lattermayrernainjntheirlowerpositions; a

. When ring 2s is moved clockwise,'.FIGS. 2,. 3, 5,;one f ofthefcams161 at ;F eeds Nos. .2 and 4 ;will engage and raise rollers '59 of the right'hand rockers .56 to .cause their-pins v6 0.to .be'lowe'red to raise one of the fingers;12-, 1 13 (depending upon buttons 23. of drum -11) controlled thereby to non-feeding positions.v Theroller's59 of. the left hand rockers 57at'-Feeds Nos. 2 and 4 "arena; then' engaged by .the other of the cams .61 sothat these rockers similarly disposed tfingers change the fingers which tions by thedrum. 1

.If'desired the rocker operating cams on ring..28 at are held in non-feeding posieach of the feeds maybe 'the'sarne, that is, each .of the feeds may 'have a cam 62 thereat or each'of the feeds .may have a painof cams 61, 61 'thereat, 'in' which case at each of the feeds may then a I be similarlyc'yclical-lyactuated'by r-i-ng:28. i,

'While pin- 45' has been shown on gear 32 driven. by'

gearflil it is understood that the pin maybe directly associated with the shaft 29 to actuate therin g 28,-the JBSSQOIQUOI'LbCIIIg suchithat' the pin maybe vertically moviab'le axially of'the shaft 29 tofpiosition the same for con- 'tact. .with' earn faces 58, 54 011 with the surfaces of lips -55,-55 of the arms 48,49. With thegear 32,the ring 28 is actuatedonce for-each pair of knitting strokes while without thegear-32', thefring28 is actuated once for each knitting stroke.

"In the ah e mentioned 'Patent' Nurnher 2,948,131, its

oscillating ring may only be idled in one of its terminal positions withjone of its 'ringoar'ns acting to hold at least 'one -finger inknonrfeeding position 'at' each of .thejfeeds.

Thus when its ring'is s'o idled during rotaryknitting, or duringqreciprocating knitting, atleast one of thefyarn ":fin gers "at each of'the feeds cannot be used and this re j 'duces theyarn finger capacity of the machine'to this ex- -'tent.' means of the present invention, :by. idling the ring 28 in 'a medial non-'aetingpositi-on, midway of the positions er the FIGS. ;4 and 5, wherein the cams 61, 62 arefnot; in contact-with rollers 59 0f the rocker" arms, all of .the yar n fingers are available for general use (under control ofthe ,dru ins ll) ateachofthe'feedsfwhcn the cyclical action of selected fingers is notdesired, and this =may be during pot-a-ry as welliasduringreciprocat-ing' 1 .I claimz"! 1 .I 1.'A, ci11cu1=a f ,knitting machine, having a'pluralitypf Y g S 'movable into feeding and into' non feeding pios tionsiat'each of a'plura'lity fof'feeds" and having pat "tern meansjat eachof'. said feeds adapted to c ontrol'the movementsf.ofrsaidfingers into both' of said positions .thereat; and additional means includinga'singl? set -st ing member operatively related to selected fingers at each of said feeds and adapted to be made active and inactive, the said selected fingers being positioned on opposite sides of said plurality of yarn fingers, said member when active being operable to cyclically control the movements of said selected fingers alternately into both of said positions at each of said feeds when the control exercised by said pattern means permits said selected fingers to be moved into their feeding positions and when inactive being inoperative to control the movements of said selected fingers whereby the latter are free of the influence of said member and whereby all of said plurality of yarn fingers are movable into both of said positions at each of said feeds under control of said pattern means.

2. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said machine has at least four feeds.

3. A circular knit-ting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is a ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled in an intermediate position between its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth.

4. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said machine has at least four feeds, wherein said member is a ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled midway of its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth.

5. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fingers are movable into both of said positions during rotary and reciprocating knitting, wherein said member when active is operable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth during reciprocating knitting and wherein said selected fingers when free of the influence of said member when the latter is inactive vas set forth are movable as set forth during rotary and during reciprocating knitting.

6. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of yarn fingers movable into feeding and into non-feeding posit-ions at each of a plurality of feeds, and means including a single actuating member operatively related to selected fingers'at each of said feeds and adapted to be made .active and inactive, the said selected fingers being positioned on opposite sides of said plurality of yarn fingers, said member when active being operable to cyclically control the movements of said selected fingers alternately into both of said positions at each of said feeds and when inactive being inoperative to control the movements of said selected fingers whereby the latter are 1 free of the influence .of said member and whereby all of said plurality of yarn fingers are movable into both of said positions at each of said feeds.

7. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said machine has at least four feeds.

8. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said member is a ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled in an intermediate position between its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth.

9. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said machine has at least four feeds, wherein said member is a ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled midway of its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth.

10. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fingers are movable into both of said positions during rotary and reciprocating knitting, wherein said member when active is operable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth during reciproeating knitting and wherein said selected fingers when free of the influence of said member when the latter is inactive as set forth are movable as set forth during rotary and during reciprocating knitting.

11. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said member is an annular ring, wherein said ring When active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled in an intermediate position between its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth, a rotary member, a rockable member interposed between and operatively related to said ring and to said rotary member whereby the latter is adapted to so intermittently oscillate said ring, and means to idle said ring in said intermediate position thereof.

12. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said member is an annular ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled in an intermediate position between its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth, a rotary member, a rockable member interposed between and operatively related to said ring and to said rotary member whereby the latter is adapted to so intermittently oscillate and to so idle said ring.

13. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said member is an annular ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring When inactive is idled in an inter mediate position between its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth, a rotary member having an off center pin, a rockable member interposed between and operatively related to said ring and to said pin whereby the latter is adapted to so intermittently oscillate and to so idle said ring.

14. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said member is an annular ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled in an intermediate position between its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth, a rotary member having an off center pin, a rockable member interposed between and operatively related to said ring and to said pin, said rockable member having a pair of arms straddling said pin, each arm of said pair of arms having a pair of pin-engaging surfaces thereon, said pin being adapted to alternately engage one of said pin-engaging surfaces on said arms to so intermittently oscillate said ring, and said pin being adapted to alternately engage the other of said pin-engaging surfaces on said arms to so idle said ring.

15. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said member is an annular ring, wherein said ring when active is intermittently oscillatable to control the movements of said selected fingers as set forth and wherein said ring when inactive is idled in an intermediate position between its terminal oscillating positions to free said selected fingers of its influence as set forth, a rotary member having an off center pin, a rockable member interposed between and operatively related to said ring and to said pin, said pin being movable into a pair of positions relative to said rockable member, said rockable member having a pair of arms straddling said pin, each arm of said pair of arms having a pair of pinengaging surfaces thereon, said pin in one of its positions being adapted to alternately engage one of said pinengaging surfaces on said arms to so intermittently oscillate said ring, and said pin in the other of its positions being adapted to alternately engagethe other of said pinengaging surfaces on said arms to so idle said ring.

16. A circular knitting machine having a plurality of yarn fingers movable into feeding and into non-feeding positions at each of a plurality of feeds, a pair of finger actuating members at each of said feeds operatively related to and movable to control the movements of selected fingers into both of said positions thereat, an oscil latable ring having cam surfaces thereon for each of said feeds for engagement with said finger actuating'members' thereat to control the movements thereof, means to intermittently oscillate said ring to cause said cam surfaces to control the movements of said finger actuating members to cause the latter to control the movements of said selected fingers alternately into both of said positions at each of said feeds, and means to idle said ring in a position wherein said cam surfaces are not in operating engagement with said pairs of finger actuating members whereby said selectedfingers are free of'the'infiuence of said ring and of said finger actuating members and'whereby all of said plurality of yarn fingers are movable into both of said positions at each of said feeds.

17. A circular knitting machine as set forth claim 16" wherein there is a circumferentially spaced pair of fingers actuating members at each of said feeds, wherein there is a circumferentially spaced pair of cam surfaceson said ring for each of said feeds for each pair of said finger actuating members thereat, wherein the cam sur-. 1

faces of one of said feeds may be disposed between the pair of finger actuating members thereat, and wherein the cam surfaces of another of said feeds may be disposed exteriorly of the pair of finger actuating members thereat;

18. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein said machine has four circumferentially spaced feeds, wherein there is a pair of circumferentially'spaced finger actuating members at each of said feeds, wherein there is a circumfcrentially spaced pair of cam surfaces on said ring for each of said feeds for each pair of said finger actuating members thereat,'wherein' the distance,

between the cam surfaces of each of an'opposite pair of said feeds is greater than the distance between the finger.

having a plurality V of yarn fingers movable into feeding and into non-feeding positions at'each of'four circumferentiallyspaced feeds, a pair of circ'um'ferentially spaced similarly" disposed right and left hand'finger actuating members at each of said feeds operatively related to and independently movable to control the movements of selected fingers into both of said positions thereat an oscillatable ring havinga circumferentially. spaced pair of cam surfaces thereon forv each of said feeds for alternate engagement with said finger actuating members thereat to control the movements thereof the cam surfaces, of anopposite pair of said feeds being reversely disposed in relation to the cam surfaces of the intervening pair of said feeds in such feeds engage said left hand finger actuating, members thereat when cam surfaces of said' intervening pair of said feeds engage said right hand finger actuating members thereat, means to intermittently oscillate said ring to cause said cam surfaces to control the movements of said fingers" actuating membersa s described to cause the latter 'to accordingly control the movements of said selected fingers into both of said positions at each of said feeds and to idle said ring;

References Cited by the Examiner 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,730 3/01 Kilbourn 66--138 X 1,115,128 10/14 .Swing'lehurst 6627 2,092,347 V 9/37 Caudle et a]; 6649 2,948,131 8/60, Levin"; 66138 3,008,316 11/61 Levin 66138 3,048,990 8/62] Moyer 66138 3,101,601 8/63 Tenconi 66138 3,122,008 2/64 Hanel et al. 6642 f p FOREIGN PATENTS 349,029 2/22 'Germany.

349,030 2/22 Germany;

2 1,523 of/ 12 Great Britain. 419,524 3/47 Italy.

RUSSEllJEC. MAlDER, Primary Examiner.- 

6. A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF YARN FINGERS MOVABLE INTO FEEDING AND INTO NON-FEEDING POSITIONS AT EACH OF A PLURALITY OF FEEDS, AND MEANS INCLUDING A SINGLE ACTUATING MEMBER OPERATIVELY RELATED TO SELECTED FINGERS AT EACH OF SAID FEEDS AND ADAPTED TO BE MADE ACTIVE AND INACTIVE, THE SAID SELECTEED FINGERS BEING POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PLURALITY OF YARN FINGERS, SAID MEMBERS WHEN ACTIVE BEING OPERABLE TO CYCLICALLY CONTROL THE MOVEMENTS OF SAID SELECTED FINGERS ALTERNATELY INTO BOTH OF SAID POSITIONS AT EACH OF SAI FEEDS AND WHEN INACTIVE BEING INOPERATIVE TO CONTROL THE MOVEMENTS OF SAID SELECTED FINGERS WHEREBY THE LATTER ARE FREE OF THE INFLUENCE OF SAID MEMBER AND WHEREBY ALL OF SAID PLURALITY OF YARN FINGERS ARE MOVABLE INTO BOTH OF SAID POSITIONS AT EACH OF SAID FEEDS. 